Seat-coupling.



G. M. HUNTLEY.

SEAT COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED no.4. 1915.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

1N VENTOR.

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A TTOR NE Yv GEORGE 11X. HUNTLEY, OF EVERETT, JEIASSACHUSETTS.

SEAT-COUPLING.

Application filed December 4, 1915.

1 b (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that T, Gnonen M. HUNTLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett. in the county of Middlesex and State of lifiassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Seat-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to means for coupling together two or more independent auditorium seats to form a row, the individual seats forming the members of the row being incapable of independent movement when coupled together by the device of my invention, although the row may be movableas a whole.

The invention is embodied in the improved coupling hereinafter described.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view showing parts of two adjacent seats connected by a couplin embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 represents a perspective view of the coupling shown by Fig. 1, detached from the seats; Figs. 4 and 5 represent views similar to Fig. 8, showing modifications; Fig. 6 represents a perspective view showing the coupling illustrated by Fig. 5, engaged with parts of two adjacent seats; Fig. 7 represents a view similar to Fig. 3, showing another modification.

The same reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all the views.

a, a represent members of two independent seats, which may be folding chairs or settees of the well-known form shown by Fig. 1, the lower end portions of the members a a forming legs crossing other legs 6 Z) and pivoted thereto at o. The upper end portions of the members (0 a form parts of the chair backs. It will be understood however that my invention is not limited to seats of the type here illustrated.

Each of the difi erent embodiments of improved coupling hereinafter described is adapted to engage the members a a of two adjacent seats and prevent said seats from being moved laterally away from each other, the coupling being in each case provided with means for engaging one or both of the seats to retain the coupling in its operative position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the coupling is formed by bending a sheet metal blank to form Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Serial No. 65,024.

two substantially parallel spaced apart side ears 12, an intermediate ear 13, and a c0nnecting neck composed of two members 14:. The coupling is adapted to bestride the members a a, the ear 13 being interposed between the cute sides of said members, while the cars 12 bear on the inner sides thereof.

The ears 12 are provided with angular slots 15 adapted to receive coupler-supporting means provided by headed studs or screws 17 attached to the members a, said studs supporting the coupling against horizontal and downward displacement, and permitting it to be displaced upwardly and forwardly to disconnect the seats. The upright inner portions of the angular slots 15 have downwardly facing closed ends, adapted to be held by the weight of the coupling on the studs 17. The horizontal outer portions of said slots have open outer ends permitting the entire removal of the coupling from the studs. The angular form of the slots 15 enables the coupling to be engaged with the studs by first moving the coupling horizontally or inward until the studs enter the outer portions of the slots, and then downward until the closed ends of the slots bear on the studs. The removal of the coupling is efi'ected by first lifting it and then moving it forward. The angular form of the slots 15 therefore prevents disengagement of the coupling from the studs by a movement in one direction only. The ears 12 may be provided with straight vertical slots 15 as shown by Fig. 4, when this form is permitted by the structure of the seats.

l/Vhen the seat backs are of the construction indicated by Fig. 6, and include horizontal bars (Z attached to and projectiong from the members a, the ears 12 may be provided with relatively wide slots 15 adapted to receive the bars (Z, said bars constituting the coupler supporting means.

The coupler in each embodiment of the invention is adapted to engage supporting means projecting from the members a, said means being embodied either in the studs or screws 17, or in the bars (Z.

The intermediate wing contributes materially to the strength and durability of the coupling by anchoring the central portion of the neck-so that the flexibility of the neck is materially reduced. The coupling may be adapted to engage supporting means on only one of the seats, as indicated by Fig. 7 which shows a slot in one of the wings 12, the other wing being without a slot.

In each embodiment of the invention the coupling is slotted to receive supporting means on one or both of the seats, and the slot formation is such that the coupling is adapted to be held by its own weight in engagement with the supporting means and is loosely movable out of engagement with said means. Each of the slots shown has a downwardly facing closed end adapted to be held by the weight of the coupling on the supporting means, and an open end permitting a loose movement of the coupling out of engagement with the supporting means.

It will be seen that my invention is embodied in a simple and inexpensive device adapted to couple seats together to form a row of any desired length, and to be quickly disconnected, no change or modification of the seats being required when the seats are constructed as shown by Fig. 6, and the only modification required in seats otherwise constructed being the insertion of the studs or screws 17.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A seat coupling comprising spacedapart substantially parallel side ears adapted to bear on the inner sides of two adjacent seat members, a neck connecting said ears and formed to extend across the front sides of said members, and an intermediate ear formed on said neck midway between said side ears and adapted to be interposed between the outer sides of said members, said coupling being slotted to engage support ing means projecting from one or both of said members, and the slot formation being such that the coupling is adapted to be held by its own weight in engagement with said supporting means and is loosely movable upwardly out of engagement therewith.

A, seat coupling comprising spacedapart substantially parallel side ears adapted to bear on the inner sides of two adjacent seat members, a neck connecting said ears and formed to extend across the front sides of said members, and an intermediate ear formed on said neck midway between said side ears and adapted to be interposed between the outer sides of said members, said side ears being provided with slots having downwardly facing closed ends adapted to be held by the weight of the coupling in engagement with supporting means projecting from said members, and open ends permitting movement of the coupling out of engagement with said supporting means.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GEORGE M. HUNTLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtainet for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

